Al Forno - Providence, RI

Dirty Steak, Anyone?

Two weeks ago was my wife's birthday. We’ve grown into a tradition of celebrating what we’ve termed the “Birthday Week” or “Weekend” at bare minimum. So in order to keep up the legacy, I planned a full 4 days of activities starting with an amazing birthday dinner at Al Forno in Providence. If you’ve ever been so lucky to eat there then you know what an absolute treasure it is. How lucky are we to have one of the best restaurants in the country in our own backyard? That’s not just my opinion - but the opinions of many of the country's best chefs and foodies alike.

When I got the idea to go there, I did what any responsible person would do... I tried getting a reservation. Don’t waste your time -they only take reservations for parties of 6 or more. We went right after work - problem solved. Parking isn’t a major issue because the restaurant has their own lot and there is plenty of on street parking in the surrounding area. The building that houses the restaurant is a large brick structure with huge floor to ceiling mill windows that overlook the Providence River. On this particular night (...)

Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular

Saturday night was warmer than expected, so after heading home from our favorite 3 year old's birthday party to take care of Dave and Grux, Melissa and I decided to head to Roger Williams Park Zoo for the Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular and some great photo ops. The event runs now though November 1 from 6 pm-11 pm (last entry at 10) and includes thousands of hand carved pumpkins with various themes. One of my favorites was

22 Bowen's - Newport, RI

Lunch over a three hour period usually means you’re working hard at the office on a huge proposal that absolutely needs to get done “today”. In fact in most cases, the legend of the three hour lunch is largely considered a myth. But for a select few, Saturday, September 12, 2009 was a lunch to rival all others. It was a lunch of such epic proportions that when it was over, we stared at each other in disbelief, wondering where the time went.

Ok, so maybe that was a little dramatic.

This past Saturday Melissa, my mother and my brother Justin and I dined at 22 Bowen’s in Newport, RI. Melissa and I decided that it would be a great idea

Plaid and Stripe - Providence, RI

Last week, Melissa and I had lunch at one of our favorite places, Haruki East in Providence. After I enjoyed yet another delicious beef asparagus bento box and she enjoyed the Wayland maki, we realized we had some time to kill, so we started walking down the street for a coffee. We stumbled upon this great store, Plaid and Stripe.

We were greeted by Robin Bugbee, aka the “lead dog” in the store. Robin introduced us to his two beagles for whom the shop is named, Plaid and Stripe. What a couple of hams. We loved them and can’t wait to get back to the store to visit with them again.

The shop is full of unique gifts for pets and their people, as well as practical items like leashes, collars and treats. Robin is very knowledgeable and friendly, asked lots of questions about our pets and helped us pick out a new harness for Grux.

The thing that made the experience for us though, was definitely the service. It’s so nice to walk into a shop that is owned by someone who is a) there b) happy to be there c) happy that YOU’RE there. Good customer service makes all the difference in the world and it’ll keep us coming back for sure.

Next time you’re walking around on the East Side, pop into Plaid and Stripe and say hi to the gang for me!

Bob Black REALTOR Williams & Stuart Real Estate 870 Oaklawn Ave Cranston, RI, 02920	Work: 401.942.0200 ext 28 Mobile: 401.261.1599 Bob@BobBlackOnline.com www.BobBlackOnline.com
Your Friend in Rhode Island Real Estate
Visit MyBlogLog and get a signature like this!

North Paws Veterinary Center

Trust. It’s the single most important feeling a person must have in order to continue to use the services of another. At North Paws Veterinary Center we found exactly that. We had been looking for a quality vet for a long time and I’m happy to say the search has ended. Dr David Bergmann immediately put us at ease with his calm demeanor and informative conversation. He took the time to really listen to what we had to say, ask lots of questions and addressed each of our concerns… all the while paying particular attention to our dog, Grux.

It’s so important to feel heard when visiting any doctor. I’m not just talking about telling the assistants what’s ailing your pet or explaining to the doctor why you’re in their office. I’m talking about really being heard. I feel that it’s a lost art in any service industry, so when you experience it, make sure to hold on with both hands because that’s usually someone who really cares about what they do and how they do it. Dr Bergmann and his technician Wendy were simply amazing in many ways, but most importantly the way they instilled trust in us. On the ride home Melissa and I kept talking about how impressed we were with both of them and how we couldn’t wait to get our cat Dave over there to be seen by Dr Bergmann as well.

I’m sure there are a few pet owners out there who are looking for reassurance that their pet is in good hands. With North Paws Veterinary Center you can feel confident that your pet’s needs are being met and you’ll sleep easier knowing they actually care about Fido’s health. Thanks, North Paws.

564 Putnam Pike

Greenville, RI 02828

401-949-5030

http://www.northpaws.com/

Bob Black REALTOR Williams & Stuart Real Estate 870 Oaklawn Ave Cranston, RI, 02920	Work: 401.942.0200 ext 28 Mobile: 401.261.1599 Bob@BobBlackOnline.com www.BobBlackOnline.com
Your Friend in Rhode Island Real Estate
Visit MyBlogLog and get a signature like this!

Milk Does a Body Good, Providence!

If you’ve ever suffered a broken bone or stress fracture and wondered why, it’s probably because you don’t drink enough milk. Myself, I drink it with just about everything - including dinner. To me, nothing beats a tall ice cold glass of nature's miracle. In my house, milk is absolutely mandatory with any dessert. In fact Melissa often makes fun of me because when I enjoy a bowl of cereal, it's usually 2 parts milk, 1 part cereal.

Given my love for the moo juice, you can imagine my surprise when I was contacted by a rep from the “Got Milk?” Milk Mustache Mobile Tour recently letting me know that they’d be in town reaching out to the community with information and events to benefit all Rhode Islanders. The events kick off on Friday, August 7 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Roger Williams Park Zoo. And continues on through the weekend at Stop & Shop at 333 West River Street in Providence from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on both Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9.

I’m definitely heading down to get my souvenir Milk Mustache photo, which I’m going to display proudly on my refrigerator so that every time anyone opens the door they can’t help but see my smiling face. Do yourself a favor and get out of the house the weekend of August 7th and get your own milk mustache.

Bob Black REALTOR Williams & Stuart Real Estate 870 Oaklawn Ave Cranston, RI, 02920	Work: 401.942.0200 ext 28 Mobile: 401.261.1599 Bob@BobBlackOnline.com www.BobBlackOnline.com
Your Friend in Rhode Island Real Estate
Visit MyBlogLog and get a signature like this!

What's Going On This Weekend in RI?

Looking for something to do this weekend? Here are some ideas – something for everyone!

Newport Fireworks
Fort Adams
July 4th
Dusk

Oakland Beach Fireworks
Warwick
July 3rd at 9pm

Fireworks and Paw Sox
Following home games on Thursday 7/2 and Friday 7/3
Fireworks at McCoy Stadium!
www.pawsox.com
401-724-7300

Flutterby: Butterflies in Bloom at Roger Williams Park Zoo
Now through September 7th
9:30-4:30
Melissa and I went last year and got some great shots!
www.rwpzoo.org
401-785-3510

Alegria, Cirque Du Soleil
July 2-5th
Awesome acrobatics
Dunkin Donuts Center
www.ticketmaster.com
800-745-3000

Food Drive and Free Outdoor Summer Concert Series
Thurdays 6-8pm beginning July 2nd through August 6th
Don’t forget your non-perishable food donation for the RI community food bank!
The Village at South County Commons
www.southcountycommons.com
401-284-2951

Bob Black REALTOR Williams & Stuart Real Estate 870 Oaklawn Ave Cranston, RI, 02920	Work: 401.942.0200 ext 28 Mobile: 401.261.1599 Bob@BobBlackOnline.com www.BobBlackOnline.com
Your Friend in Rhode Island Real Estate
Visit MyBlogLog and get a signature like this!

Antonio's Trattoria - Cranston, RI

Antonio’s Trattoria, located in the Knightsville section of Cranston, was the scene for our most recent dinner date. Melissa and I received a very generous gift certificate from the owners of my company in celebration of our engagement four weeks ago. I’ve lived in Rhode Island for most of my life and in Cranston for the majority of that time and this was the first time I’d been to Antonio’s. I can’t believe what I’ve been missing. Although the parking situation is a little dicey, once you step inside the restaurant the hustle and bustle of the everyday world is left behind.

We were greeted quickly and seated even faster. Our host seated us in the lounge area, which worked perfectly because it’s lined with half circle booths that have tall backs for the ultimate in privacy. Warm earthy tones and clean linens filled our view and soft lighting echoed a very romantic décor. Melissa and I have always been the adventurous type when it comes to cuisine and Antonio’s gave us the opportunity to keep up that trend. Zucchini flowers stuffed with roasted zucchini and goat cheese began the meal followed closely by heirloom tomato mozzarella fritti. Yeah, it was even better than it sounds.

Melissa’s main course was exceptional. She dined on pan-seared scallops, which sat on a bed of creamy spinach risotto with a pomegranate drizzle. Each of her bites was followed by, “Mmmmm, this is fantastic!” or “Mmmmm, this is so good baby, you have to try it.” And try it I did. If I were eating with anyone else, say my brother I would have used my Jedi Mind Trick to knock him out so I could quietly finish off his meal. But because I was sitting next to my fiancé, I decided against that approach. Wise choice I think.

I went in the “turf” direction for my main course. Perfectly cooked to a medium rare, I had filet mignon over a bed of grilled asparagus and mashed potatoes with a port wine reduction. While the potatoes needed a little seasoning to bring them to life, the rest of my meal couldn’t be beat. Although I wanted to rip into my filet and swallow it whole, I chose a more sophisticated style and made sure to get a little bit of everything in each bite. Again, I made a wise choice.

We finished the evening with dessert. Melissa opted for Limoncello cheesecake with tea. Being the chocoholic that I am, I chose the molten chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream with raspberry sauce. I don’t know what it is about eating at Italian restaurants, but I always end my meal with a double espresso. Maybe I’m testing each bartender’s espresso making skills, or maybe I just need the caffeine to wake me up after eating such a great meal. Antonio’s Trattoria was just the place for romance combined with amazing food and service. Make Antonio’s Trattoria a stop on your list of great restaurants. You won’t be disappointed.

Bob Black REALTOR Williams & Stuart Real Estate 870 Oaklawn Ave Cranston, RI, 02920	Work: 401.942.0200 ext 28 Mobile: 401.261.1599 Bob@BobBlackOnline.com www.BobBlackOnline.com
Your Friend in Rhode Island Real Estate

Lunch at Iggy's

Iggy’s Doughboy’s and Clam Shack was the destination on our radar this morning. The TV Maitre d' was reviewing Iggy’s in Point Judith, and after his gleaming assessment I decided that we’d be packing up the dog and heading south for the day. Being a borderline dreary day, it turned out to be a great idea. With Grux loaded into the Camry off we went on our Saturday mission to find a little Rhody magic.

In life, timing is everything… and at Iggy’s this couldn’t be more true. With walkup service that had us greeted with a welcoming smile it only took us a few minutes to figure out what to order. Besides, after watching the show this morning I basically had it all planned out. Melissa and Grux went off to sit at one of the many outdoor picnic tables. Grux was the star of the show, with children swarming around to pet him.

I anxiously stood there waiting for my number to be called. I felt like the kid waiting to be picked for kickball at recess. Because every order is made fresh, the numbers called are all over the place depending on how complicated your order is. Then… the magic words, “number 67 ready for pick-up”. Good times my friends, good times.

I rushed the hot food over to our table and we had at it. Doughboys, clam cakes, clam chowder and root beer floats made with Iggy’s own bottled root beer. Simply delicious. It may not have been the picture perfect summer day in Rhode Island, but it was a perfect day for Iggy’s.

Bob Black REALTOR Williams & Stuart Real Estate 870 Oaklawn Ave Cranston, RI, 02920	Work: 401.942.0200 ext 28 Mobile: 401.261.1599 Bob@BobBlackOnline.com www.BobBlackOnline.com
Your Friend in Rhode Island Real Estate
Visit MyBlogLog and get a signature like this!